Dover robbery suspect jumps into St. Jones in failed escape attempt

Dover Police have arrested three local men shortly after a robbery at a local 7-Eleven store.

Staff reports

Three men, suspects in the early morning robbery of a local convenience store, were caught shortly after the crime was committed.

One of the suspects jumped into the St. Jones River in an unsuccessful escape attempt, said Dover Police Department spokesman Cpl. Mark Hoffman.

The men were identified as Cornelius Brice, 23, and Richard Woodard, 19, both of Wilmington, and Jiar Johnson, 17, of Dover.

The robbery took place at 4:24 a.m. June 30, at the 7-Eleven store at 449 S. New St., Hoffman said. Three black men brandishing knives came into the store and two robbed the clerk of his wallet, cell phone and other personal items as the third stood guard. All of the men were wearing dark, hooded sweatshirts pulled over their heads and black cloth covering the lower half of their faces.

After robbing the victim, they fled on foot, taking several packs of Newport cigarettes and other tobacco items, Hoffman said.

During a search, police spotted the men in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and River Road; all three tried to run away, but Johnson was caught immediately. Woodard and Brice were caught after a brief foot chase in which one of them jumped into the St. Jones.

All three were charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree conspiracy, resisting arrest and wearing a disguise during commission of a felony. Johnson and Woodard also were charged with possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited and possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony.

Brice was jailed in lieu of a $35,000 secured bond, while Johnson was ordered held on a $45,000 secured bond and Woodard jailed after failing to pay a $65,000 secured bond.